Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020

As we reflect on the previous year and look forward to the year ahead. 

What are some things you want to change in this next year? It could be an attitude you want to change. It could be someone you should spend more time with. It could be something you stop or start doing. Whatever it is, pray and ask God to show you how to be a better you in 2020.

Maybe there is something he wants to teach you or grow you in this year.

As you think about 2020 what is a word that comes to mind? It could be about change, endurance, peace, trust, kindness, joy, etc... Pray and ask God to show you the theme word of your life for 2020.

You can even go deeper and just pray for God to give you steps for this year and how you can stick to them.

You don't have to use the questions I gave but I do encourage you to spend time in reflection. 

Reflecting on the past year is a great way to check at the growth you have made, and the areas that need growth. Celebrating the victories and figuring out how to improve on the failures. 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"  -2 Corinthians 5:17

"Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord."

-Lamentations 3:40

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." -Ephesians 4:22-24

What Christmas Means To Me!

To me Christmas means: 

-Spending time with loved ones

-Giving gifts to family and friends 

-Eating delicious food consisting of meat, mashed potatoes and gravy

-Watching home alone each and every year

-Opening gifts from those who are near

-Singing songs of glory to God for the birth of his son

-Family gatherings with those I don't see as often

-Playing games that are fun and sometimes get out of hand

-Reading the story of Jesus birth

-Watching movies that bring laughter and joy

-Staying in pjs as long as possible

-Snack on Christmas oranges 

I hope that this year you would experience Love, Joy, and Peace this Christmas season. 

That you will celebrate the birth of Jesus and spend time with those you love. 

Have a great Christmas everyone

🎄🎁👶🎶♥️

What Does Spiritual Strength Look Like?

Lets start by taking about foundation. I think one of the most important things we need in our faith is a strong foundation.

We all know that in order for a house to stay standing, it needs to have a strong foundation. Then you add walls, some windows, eventually a roof then more smaller and intricate details to it, until it is finished. The same is true about our faith. We need to start with knowing what we believe, then we add more knowledge and more truths into our walk as we go. The further we get the less we will learn. We will still learn lots but our foundational and strong beliefs are already there and we learn more detailed and intricate things as we mature in our faith. When  Jesus returns, we will be finished, complete in our faith.

While we are here, we will have lies, doubts and questions that come at us. We need to know whether we believe something or not. Just like a house, that is built strong enough to withstand the wind, weather and all the elements that get thrown at it. In our faith we need to withstand all those irrelevant or untrue things. I know I don't believe that so I need to address it and move on and kick it out. 

In the faith of some people they are like houses against a hurricane, they try and keep it together and stay strong but in the end are no match for what they are facing and get uprooted and destroyed. We need to have a strong foundation so that when hard things or faith questioning obstacles come, we can stay strong. Sure we may break a window, or tear down a curtain or something, but we stay strong, make it through and keep going.

My question to you today is: How strong is your foundation?

Matthew 7:24-27

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Hebrews 6:19 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure”

Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower”

Ephesians 6:10 “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power”

Lets pray: Lord I pray that the people reading these words would use this to fuel their faith, that those who need a strong foundation will ask you for help and guidance on how to grow their faith. That those who have a strong foundation would keep building on that faith. That you would reach into the hearts of every person and lead them closer to you today, in Jesus name, AMEN